Nextlink Expands Rural Service Bundle with New Mobile Offering

Nextlink Internet, a major fixed wireless and fiber provider serving rural communities across the Midwest and South, has launched Nextlink Mobile, adding mobile phone service to its broadband portfolio. The move positions the company as an increasingly formidable competitor to CBAN provider members, particularly those without their own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) offerings.

The Competitive Landscape

Nextlink currently operates as one of the largest fixed wireless providers in the United States, delivering internet service across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming—territories where many CBAN members also provide service. The company serves residential, business, educational, healthcare, and public-sector customers with both fixed wireless and fiber-optic technology.

With the addition of mobile service, Nextlink can now offer customers a complete communications bundle: internet, home phone, and mobile service—all from a single provider. This convergence strategy directly challenges CBAN members who may only offer broadband services.

Mobile Service Details

Nextlink Mobile operates as an MVNO on AT&T’s nationwide network, having recently switched from T-Mobile to AT&T’s infrastructure. The service features:

• Plans starting at $40 per month
• Unlimited talk and text on all plans
• Access to AT&T’s 5G network
• No contracts or commitments
• 24/7 customer support through a dedicated mobile app
• Number portability (customers can keep their existing numbers)
• Bring-your-own-device option for compatible phones

Bundle Pricing and Customer Acquisition Strategy

Perhaps most concerning for CBAN members is Nextlink’s aggressive bundle pricing. The company advertises internet and mobile bundles starting at just $60 per month, creating a compelling value proposition for rural customers. By comparison, customers who purchase internet from one provider and mobile service from another would typically pay significantly more.

For CBAN members without their own MVNO offerings, this bundling advantage could prove particularly challenging. Customers may be tempted to switch their internet service to Nextlink to access the discounted mobile pricing, even if they’re satisfied with their current broadband provider.

Implications for CBAN Members

The launch of Nextlink Mobile raises several strategic considerations for CBAN members:

1. Customer Retention: Members competing with Nextlink in overlapping service territories may face increased customer churn, particularly among price-sensitive customers attracted to bundle discounts.
2. MVNO Considerations: Members without mobile offerings may need to evaluate whether launching their own MVNO service would help retain customers and provide a competitive bundle option.
3. Value Proposition: Providers may need to strengthen their value propositions around customer service, network quality, community investment, or other differentiating factors beyond price.
4. Marketing Response: CBAN members should consider proactive customer communication emphasizing their strengths, local presence, and commitment to community service.

Member Options for Mobile Service

CBAN members have several pathways to launch their own mobile products and compete with converged offerings like Nextlink’s. One significant option is NCTC Mobile, available to members of the National Content and Technology Cooperative (NCTC). NCTC Mobile provides a turnkey MVNO solution that allows broadband providers to offer mobile service under their own brand without the complexity and capital requirements of building carrier relationships and infrastructure from scratch.

NCTC will present information about NCTC Mobile at the CBAN 2026 Spring Summit, providing members with an opportunity to learn more about the program’s features, pricing, and implementation requirements. For members considering a mobile service launch in response to competitive pressures from providers like Nextlink, this presentation could offer valuable insights into one potential solution.

Beyond NCTC Mobile, members may also explore partnerships with other MVNO aggregators or direct carrier relationships, though these options typically require greater resources and longer implementation timelines.

The Broader Trend

Nextlink’s mobile expansion reflects a broader industry trend toward convergence, where providers seek to offer multiple services to increase customer lifetime value and reduce churn. Major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have long bundled home internet with mobile service in areas where they offer both. Now, rural broadband providers are increasingly following suit.

For CBAN members, the question is no longer whether to consider mobile service, but whether the competitive pressure from providers like Nextlink will force their hand. As rural customers become accustomed to bundled service options, providers offering only broadband may find themselves at a growing disadvantage.

The telecommunications landscape continues to evolve, and CBAN members will need to carefully assess their service portfolios and competitive positioning in response to converged offerings like Nextlink’s new mobile service. The upcoming CBAN Spring Summit presentation on NCTC Mobile offers a timely opportunity for members to explore their options.